(Picture (c) Franklin McMohan)

Listening to the bark
of the helmeted one,
His eyes
misting
over the scaffolding
He sees
a field in the wind,
a stationery plough,
a quiet dawn,
presided over by
a giant banyan tree,
And a wisp of a woman,
saree tucked in
holding
a cloth wrapped lunch
saying,
"Take this,
your lunch,
I know you'll be late
You have a meeting
with the Rain God..."
And he shudders,
as a firm hand
descends
on his never-give-up
shoulders,
saying,
***"Chalo chalo,hurry up,
Aaj slab puri karni hai....."
***"Come on, hurry up, the slab work must get done today"(translation from hindi)



